First-class fliers abandoning BA

BRITISH Airways blamed a drop in first class and business travel and a weaker summer season for lower traffic last month.

BA blamed a drop in first class and business travel and a weaker summer season for lower traffic

Traffic in revenue passenger kilometres fell 2.9 per cent while the airline’s load factor – how full its aircraft were – fell 0.3 percentage points to 84.4 per cent. Passenger numbers dipped 0.1 per cent to 3.15million.

BA said first and business-class travel, the most profitable part of its passenger business, fell 1.4 per cent, while non-premium traffic slipped 3.1 per cent. “Market conditions remain as previously anticipated,” BA said.